Shabby cabin woodwork

[Waughey]

I have a sigma 36 from mid 1980s and the interior woodwork is looking a little tired. What is my best corse of action to smarten things up?

 

[sogood]

First figure out how long is a piece of string............ It all depends on what like or dislike, your budget, how much demolition you're prepared to live with. My approach with anything I'm not happy with is to rip it out and start from scratch on a blank canvas. Some pictures/details etc would help with constructive responses.

 

[Concerto]

Over time the original finish will have gone slightly milky and opaque. I presume you want it to look like new again, they you ill have to go back to bare wood. I am pretty sure Marine Projects used a lacquer on internal woodwork (the same as Westerly) from Morrells. I know most of the British boat builders used this or something very similar, and definitely noy varnish. Westerly used 450 low odour high build up acid catalist with 30% sheen. I expect Marine Projects used the same. It is still available today.
https://www.morrells.co.uk/products...0-low-odour-high-build-acid-catalyst-lacquer/

I am currently using this to refinsh my interior woodwork on my Fulmar. 5 litres of 450 with catalyst with 5 litres of thinners cost about £60 and is sufficient for the whole interior using 3 coats and some to spare. It is intended for spraying, but brushing with the grain gives a good finish. I am using 3 brushed coats and am surprised at how good it i starting to look. Sorry no photos yet.

Morrells sold me 1 litre of a floor finish for high traffic areas and sports halls. This is water based and made my teak and holly floors look good considering they have had 40 years of use so far.
https://www.morrells.co.uk/products...-coatings/induro-floor-lacquers/induro-sport/

 

[[70521]]

I am a huge fan of Le Tonkinos for outdoor and indoor work.

 

[Concerto]

Le Tonkinois is what I use on my exterior woodwork, but it is a soft varnish. I have not tried their interior varnish, but prefer to stay with what was originally applied by the builder.

 

[Waughey]

Many thanks for your replies. I'll investigate Tonkinois

 

[Stemar]

Le Tonkinois is what I use on my exterior woodwork, but it is a soft varnish. I have not tried their interior varnish, but prefer to stay with what was originally applied by the builder.

I used it on the stairs of my last house. When we moved out, it was looking a bit tired, but it was the best part of 10 years old by then, and had endured the tender care of half a dozen teens.

For the interior of a boat, I prefer a satin finish, but you can get that by using a matting agent, also available from the supplier.

 

[catlotion]

If there are damp stains in the veneer I can recommend sticking a dehumidifier in there for a bit.

Our 1986 Beneteau had pretty bad dark moisture marks in the wood. The surveyor said a dehumidifier would pull them out - we didn't believe him but he was right and it brightened the wood up a lot. Desiccant type for cold temperatures...

 

[Concerto]

Black stains can be bleached out. Use the cheapest supermarket bleach as it is unscented. Dilute it at 5 parts water to 1 part bleach. Apply and leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Wash off with plenty of water. Pat dry with white (not printed) kitchen paper and leave to dry. If this does not completely remove it, then repeat until no longer black.

 

[Jim@sea]

I have a sigma 36 from mid 1980s and the interior woodwork is looking a little tired. What is my best course of action to smarten things up?

I bought a 1985 boat where the interior woodwork was looking "tired, worn and stained" Just bought some new thin plywood sheets, cut them to size and sr-faced what was there. Varnished it wit 2 pack varnish and the interior looked as it did when it was new.